Pedal operated paddle system for boats



June 19, 1962 J. v. BAKER 3,

PEDAL OPERATED PADDLE SYSTEM FOR BOATS Filed Jan. 7, 1960 J/YMES M BAKER ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,039,422 PEDAL OPERATED PADDLE SYSTEM FQR BOATS James V. Baker, 202 Pine Park, Jackson, Miss. Filed Jan. 7, 1960, Ser. No. 1,069 1 Claim. (Cl. 115-25 My invention relates to an apparatus for moving a boat through the water. More specifically, my invention relates to an apparatus removably attached to the gunwales of a boat on port and starboard sides for pedal operation by the operator.

Numerous attemps in the past to accomplish marine propulsion by means of pedal operated devices have been presented but have met with little actual success because of complicated designs and exorbitant manufacturing cost. It is my purpose through my invention to provide -a sturdy and substantially fool-proof mechanism for marine propulsion which can be economically manufactured with standard parts and operated at a high mechanical effi ciency through reduction of friction losses and destructive torque forces. Further, my invention provides an apparatus which is easily manipulated by the operator to produce a powerful and smooth propulsion force. Through proper manipulation of the foot pedals, delicate and complete control of the movement of the boat can be accomplished.

My invention is particularly suited for fishermen as it leaves both hands free and provides a propulsion system which can be quietly operated in a smooth and continuous manner with a high degree of control. Adjustment means are provided to enable precise regulation of the driving stroke length and speed.

My invention includes a mounting means for connecting the apparatus to opposed locations on the port and starboard sides of a boat. At each side of the boat there is a first bearing rigidly affixed to the mounting means, a drive gear having its aflixed shaft journalled in the bearing, the drive gear operatively engaging a driven gear mounted in a second bearing aflixed to the first bearings, the driven shaft of the driven gear extending through its bearing to the outside of the boat, a power arm rigidly affixed to the driven shaft and a hinged paddle mounted on the lower end of the paddle arm for predetermined movement in the water. Preferably, a return spring is provided for biasing the paddle to its retracted position. A foot pedal is mounted on a drive rod rigidly affixed to the drive gear. The fine points of the design will be more explicitly presented hereinafter.

Various other objects and meritorious features of my invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of a portion of a boat with the starboard unit mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a sectional end View of a boat looking toward the bow with both port and starboard units mounted thereon;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the paddle portion; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modified unit providing a shorter stroke.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that my invention includes a port unit 15 and a starboard unit 16 which may be interconnected by a frame means (not shown) if desired. Preferably, however, my apparatus includes separate port and starboard units, these units being mirror copies of each other in major respects.

Each unit includes a mounting means having U- member 17 which rests on the guuwale 18 of the boat and extends down over the hull. ing means 19 is threadedly received in the outboard leg of U-member 17 to enable rigid mounting of the unit to the Screw threaded clamp-' "ice boat by drawing the inboard leg of U-member 17 in engagement therewith.

A bearing housing means 20 which includes a first bearing 21 and a second bearing 22 is welded to the U-member 17 of the mounting means. Each bearing extends athwartships and the bearings are spaced apart by web 27 in a vertical direction a predetermined distance sufiicient to receive the gear means. It will be noted that a large drive gear 23 is removably affixed to a shaft 24 (shown in phantom) journalled in the first bearing (21 and that the small driven gear 25 is similarly mounted in a fixed manner to its shaft 26 (shown in phantom), which in turn is journalled in the second bearing 22. A unique feature of my design is the location of the gears inboard to provide a balancing of forces produced by the inherent weight of the unit as well as the strains produced by the torques developed during use to prevent the production of severe force couples which damage the structural integrity of the hull as well as the unit itself.

Extending rearwardly and downwardly from the large drive gear 23 is a drive rod 30, this rod being adjustably affixed to the gear. A foot pedal 31 extends athwartship from the lower portion of the drive rod 30 for foot operation, the rod being adjustable on the gear 23 to enable conformance with the operators physical characteristics and power requirements. Suitable bolt clamping means 32 are provided which extend through an enlarged opening 33 in the drive gear 23 and drive rod 30 for length and angular relationship adjustment.

Spring means 34 is provided for the return of the pedal 31 to the retracted position and in the preferred design shown the spring means 34 is connected at one end to the lower portion of the drive rod 30 and at the other end to a rearwardly extending member 35 of the frame at its other end. Adjustment means, such as spaced connecting zones or holes 36, are provided for regulating the tension on the spring means 34 to control the retractive force and the extent of retraction.

The paddle assembly is rigidly affixed to the driven shaft 26 extending through the second bearing 22. This paddle assembly includes the paddle arm 51, which extends downwardly outside the hull of the ship into the water and which has a collar 52 held rigidly to shaft 26' by a set screw 53. The lower end of the paddle arm 51 has a paddle backing spider 54 against which the paddle 55 bears when being forced through the water in a rearward or sternward direction (FIG. 3). The paddle 55 is suitably shaped; preferably a rectangular member with spaced looped over cars 56 at its upper end is pivotally mounted on the arm 51 near its lower portion by means of pivot pin 57 which passes through the arm and through the bearing formed by ears 56 in the upper end of the paddle. A rearwardly extending stop member 58 is rigidly affixed to the arm 51 and mounted immediately above the pivot pin 57 for limiting the upward pivoting movement of the paddle 55.

FIG. 4 shows a unit arranged for a short paddle stroke through the water on each cycle. The small gear 25 has been moved down to the drive shaft 24 and the large gear 23 has been moved up to the driven shaft 26. The mechanical advantage attained enables the production of a shorter and less tiring stroke on each cycle.

It will be noted in FIG. 1 that one position of the paddle assembly 50 and pedal 31 is shown in full lines and that a second position of the units is shown in phantom lines. The second position shows the paddle at a point of high force effect on the water. Various propulsion requirements can be met by varying the angle of attachment of the drive rod 30 to the drive gear 23 by suitable alignment in mounting holes 33. Similiarly, the spring tension may be varied by utilizing different :JJ tension settings or holes 36. The angular relationship of pedal and paddle may also be varied by releasing the set screw 53 and/ or set screw 63 on collar 64 so that that gears may be disenaged from each other and rotated for engagement at the desired angular setting.

In operation, it will be recognized that the operation of the port pedal alone will cause a turning of the boat 'and by suitable manipulation a precise control and excellent maneuverability can be attained.

It will be recognized that the basic elements of my invention are of sturdy and uniquely simplified design. The unit may be manufactured as a mass production item without expensive tooling and for a low cost may be provided to a user.

While the invention has been described in terms of certain embodiments and examples, these are to be considered as illustrative rather than limiting and it is desired to cover all modifications and further embodiments that fall Within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

I-claim:

In a paddle apparatus for boat propulsion, the combination which includes a frame means, clamp means rigidly afiixed to said frame means and adapted to be removably clamped to the gunwale of a boat, said frame means including a lower bearing means extending athwartships when in clamped position on a boatand an -a upper bearing means vertically aligned therewith, a drive shaft mounted in said lower bearing, a drive gear removably and rigidly mounted on said drive shaft, a driven shaft mounted in said upper bearing, a driven gear removably and rigidly mounted on said driven shaft and meshed with said drive gear, a drive rodaflixed to said drive gear and extending downwardly therefrom, a foot pedal extending athwartships and connected to the lower portion of said drive rod, 2 power arm affixed to the outboard end of said driven shaft and extending downwardly, a paddle attached to the lower portion of said power arm, a spring support extending rearwardly from said frame, a spring means interconnecting the spring support and the lower portion of said drive rod, means for adjusting the spring tension of said spring means, means for adjusting the length and angular disposition of the drive rod, said means for adjusting the length including bolt means and a series of bolt receiving holes in said drive rod and said drive gear, said holes in said drive gear being arcuately spaced, said means for adjusting the spring tension including spaced holes along said spring support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 839,595 Johnson Dec. 25, 1906 1,914,901 Thompson June 20, 1933 

